2 
“ that if an elevated post of observation could be provided for the Commanding 
Officer of a battery without unduly adding to the weight of the equipment, it 
would prove a decided boon.” 
The accompanying sketch will speak for itself, but it may be noted that the 
ladder is composed of tubular iron rods telescoping into one another, and that it 
is capable of being set up and taken down very rapidly. It is intended to be 
raised on an ammunition wagon and can be packed underneath. Three men can 
fix it in half-a-minute so securely that the wagon can move with it in situ. It 
weighs 88 lbs., and gives the observer an extra height of 3’5 metres. An im¬ 
proved pattern only weighs 66 lbs. It was practically tested during practice 
exercises by the German 8th Field Artillery Brigade, and was favourably reported 
on. It was also tested at Lockstedt by several officers of the other arms of high 
position. Altogether, independently of these German experiments, similar sugges¬ 
tions have been put forward in Belgium, and an observation ladder, the invention 
of Lieutenant de Cartres, has actually been introduced into the Belgian service. 
The construction and method of employment of this one were closely discussed 
last winter in the Revue d'ArtiUerie, and Italia militaire e marina. It is signifi¬ 
cant that the same necessities have brought about a similar development in both 
countries. 
